This document and its content for Round II, is based on my own Imagine Cup experience. Please feel free to improve the content of this document and post it back in the Imagine Cup forum, or send us your feedback and we will update it. All the references in this material are optional and non-exclusive. There are plenty of resources available that you can use and this is only a small part of them.

First step is to better understand the products required in the proposal. One mandatory requirement is to use Latest Microsoft Products into your proposal. In that case you must know about each product recommended next elements:

Executive summary / Introduction / Overview: a general description of your proposal: 200 – 500 words. In this part you must specify what are you intend to present in the content of your proposal.

Product and Technology Recommendation: a list of software products used in headquarter and in branch offices including version, service pack, reason to use

Configuration Recommendation – how your products must be configured to meet the requirements. This part could be structured oriented per services: Directory Services, Infrastructure Services, Virtual Services, etc.

Bibliography (Optional) – Your proposal is not a research paper, but you can use if you want bibliographic references.

2. Fundamental materials

Solution Accelerators – very important resource for beginners in service design. This reference is addressing all technologies that can be included into your proposal. You can download all Infrastructure Planning and Design documents from here.

The second important resource is BOIS (Branch Office Infrastructure Solution for Windows Server 2008). BOIS is oriented for branch office integration, communication and security.

4. Translators

5. Virtual labs and software

An important resource for your preparation, if you do not have access to www.msdnaa.net, is TechNet Virtual Labs. There is a list of Virtual Labs when you can experience the configuration of a system. You must sign up with your Hotmail passport.

6. Final remarks

Please do not Copy/Paste from these materials. In last year’s there were few people that are made that, and this is not fair for other competitors. You can use this materials as a general guides for your proposal but do not forget to be original and main goal is to provide a general proposal based on business requirements.